ADHD

ADHD: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

What is ADHD?

ADHDers have brains that work differently.
ADHD-Inattentive: characterized by difficulties regulating attention
- - Making mistakes, over looking details
  - Difficulties with organization and finishing tasks
  - Forgetfulness, misplaces objects, and difficulties with routines
  - Difficulties listening and following instructions
  - Can also look like:
    - - Daydreaming quietly, staring
      - Anxious, sad, shy
      - People-pleasing and perfectionism
ADHD-Hyperactive: characterized by the need for movement
- - Fidget, wiggle, restlessness, get up from their seat
  - Blurting out answers, finishes people's sentences, hard time waiting turns, talks a lot
  - Hyperactivity can be inside their head (thoughts always running, brain never quiet)
ADHD-Combined: characterized by traits from both categories above, with variations of intensity
Both ADHD-I and ADHD-H also include:
- - Sleep issues and chronic fatigue
  - Sensory processing difficulties
  - Self-esteem impacted: guilt and shame
  - Feeling burnt out

Why no more ADD?

It is a diagnosis no longer recognized. Instead, ADHD has been broken down into three subcategories mentioned here and has absorbed ADD into these sections.

The Positives of ADHD:

Imaginative and more likely to take risks when problem solving and tackling challenges
Can get a lot done in short periods of time, yay hyperfocus!
Works well under pressure - deadlines and due dates are your friend!

ADHD and Time Distortion

Time management is an executive function affected by ADHD.

Hard to estimate how much time is needed for a task
Hard to judge how long ago something happened; how much time has passed
Affects how far into the future you can plan ahead
Brains prefer short-term goals and rewards as long-term goals/deadlines are hard to sustain

Strategies:

Visual timers
Using songs to get a sense of how much time has passed
Making each step in a process a goal - instead of just the end completion

Guilt and shame are huge components of ADHD and Time Distortion. ADHDers are often perceived as lazy, always late, rude, careless, and disorganized to name a few. Will power is not the issue for ADHDers. Many ADHDers, diagnosed or not, know that they face challenges in many aspects of their lives and actively try to work against the obstacles without tools or support. Patience and understanding from others, as well as finding strategies that work really go a long way.

Please keep this in mind not only when working with your students, but with fellow staff members as well.

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